Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

Yorkshire Events Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate have announced a new events director.

Richard Moorhouse has been promoted to the role after being venue manager at the centre for the last 12 years.

Mr Moorhouse will be tasked with heading up events and conferencing venues at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

In a post on its social media, Yorkshire Events Centre said:

“Richard has over 20 years’ experience in the industry and previously held operational roles at the Freedom Centre, Hull and in hospitality at Doncaster Racecourse.”

Grantley Hall recognised at hospitality awards

Grantley Hall near Ripon has been recognised at an industry awards ceremony.

The hotel was awarded the “best service” award at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2024.

The awards aim to recognise excellence within the hospitality industry.

Richard Sykes, managing director at Grantley Hall, said:

“Receiving the award for ‘Best Service’ at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2024 is a moment of immense pride for the entire Grantley Hall family.

“This accolade is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, our dedicated team’s passion for hospitality and the genuine care we extend to each and every guest.

“We are deeply honoured by this recognition, as it only strengthens our resolve to continue exceeding the expectations of those we have the privilege to serve and experience the magic of Grantley Hall.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate care provider hires learning development manager
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate consultancy firm hires new associate directors
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate shoe firm celebrates 30 years

The skies above the Harrogate district turned green and red last night as the Northern Lights made another appearance.

The aurora borealis was visible across the country for a second night running.

Photographer Paul Oldham took this stunning image over Grantley Hall, near Ripon, at about 6.30pm.

It was not the first time Mr Oldham has captured the natural light display, which appears during geomagnetic storms.

In September, he took this shot above How Hill in Ripon.

Paul Oldham’s Northern Lights photo in September.

Read more:

• Speed limit could be reduced on A61 Harrogate to Ripon Road
• Historic Harrogate chapel up for auction

This story is sponsored by Grantley Hall

If you’re looking for a touch of magic this Christmas, Grantley Hall is on hand to make all your Christmas wishes come true.

As the most wonderful time of the year fast approaches, the five-star options on offer at the hotel will bring friends and families a taste of luxury and is just on the district’s doorstep.

From festive parties and Christmas lunches to festive afternoon tea and New Year celebrations, Christmas at Grantley Hall promises to be nothing short of perfection.

Festive Dining

Grantley Hall, better know as indulgence on our doorstep, will boast range of festive dining options to be enjoyed by locals and hotel guests this Christmas.

Whether you’re looking for a long lunch with friends or a seasonal afternoon tea with family, the hotel can guarantee you will leave with a belly full of Christmas spirit!

Why not kick-start December with a reservation at the festive champagne lunch on 2 December. This lunch combines a three-course lunch crafted by Grantley’s top chefs including a half bottle of Veuve Clicquot per person. Whilst enjoying the delightful food, a DJ and saxophonist will entertain.

From edible Christmas trees and chocolate reindeer to French fancies and glittering bauble cakes, the Festive Afternoon Tea will truly make you wish it was Christmas everyday.

Experience a magical Grantley Hall Christmas

Après at the Orchard

The Après alpine winter wonderland at the Orchard is reopening on 4 November. Dine in a cosy winter themed restaurant whilst enjoying the new menu as well as indulge in the Möet & Chandon champagne cocktails which have been created specifically to pair with the menu. Book to attend the spectacular launch event on 3 November.

The hughely popular Sunday sessions will be returning over the winter months.

Christmas Parties

Picture this: Champagne flowing, friends laughing and snowflakes glistening. Well, with Grantley Hall’s Christmas Parties, that can soon become a reality.

Who needs to travel when the Grantley Suite can become a magical winter wonderland?

With a private bar, dance floor and terrace area, up to 150 guests can dance the night away and celebrate the party season in style.

If that wasn’t enough, guests can expect a four-course dinner including Braised Blade of Limousin Beef and a Glazed Raspberry Délice in between the partying.

Let Grantley Hall work its magic and make it a Christmas to remember with their seasonal celebrations.

All Christmas bookings can be made now on Grantley Hall’s website or by emailing either dine@grantleyhall.co.uk or events@grantleyhall.co.uk.

New Year’s Eve Gala Ball

As a fairy Godmother once said: you will go to the ball.

Ditch the midnight countdown from your sofa and get your glad rags on, as the Grantley Hall New Year’s Eve Gala Ball fast approaches!

Expect an evening of exquisite food, including Dressed Crab and Yorkshire Salt Aged Beef Fillet, flowing drinks and only the happiest of memories.

This dazzling event will whisk you and your loved ones into 2024 with the sounds of a traditional pipes, a live firework display and even more bubbly at midnight.

Just a short taxi ride from Harrogate and Ripon, embrace the luxury on offer at Grantley Hall — after all, that level of enjoyment is hard to put a price on.

Celebrate the arrival of 2024 in style at the Grantley Hall New Year’s Eve House Party!

For those looking to go the extra mile this Christmas or New Year, Grantley Hall also offers two or three-night stays with its Christmas House Party and New Year House Party Packages — who says you have to travel far for ultimate grandeur?

The packages include five-star accommodation, food and spa access, with added bonuses of National Trust visits and entertainment.

So, whether you’re looking for a festive getaway, a family affair or just a good old knees up, Grantley Hall is guaranteed to bring you and your loved ones a Christmas or New Year that is nothing short of perfection.

Find out more about the packages or non-residential options available at Grantley Hall at grantleyhall.co.uk

The Stray Ferret was the proud media partner for St Wilfrid’s Stars with our coverage kindly sponsored by Grantley Hall and Little Bird Made.

For Peter Wilkinson, it was an evening of cheers and tears when he was announced as an award winner at the St Wilfrid’s Stars ceremony in Ripon Cathedral.

Each day, during term time,  he is on duty morning and afternoon at the busy junction of Kirkby Road/Trinity Lane and Church Lane, to ensure that children and parents of Holy Trinity, St Wilfrid’s Outwood Academy and Ripon Grammar are able to cross the road safely.

Peter Wilkinson (third from left) is pictured with the Mayor of Ripon, councillor Sid Hawke, who presented the community award and David Ingham, of event organisers Ripon Together, who accepted Brian Lumley’s trophy from the, Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson.

A lollipop man for three years, Mr Wilkinson was cheered and applauded when his name was read out. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I wasn’t expecting to receive an award and it proved an emotional evening for me and my wife Estelle

“We both had tears in our eyes and I would like to thank whoever it was that nominated me.”

Brian Lumley, who mans the crossing patrol on Bondgate Green, which is primarily used by parents and children on their way to and from Cathedral School, also received an award, but could not be present to accept it.

He and Mr Wilkinson were among the city’s unsung heroes who received recognition for the contribution that they make to community life in Ripon.

An estimated 400 people gathered to see the distinctive St Wilfrid’s Stars award trophies, produced by Jennyruth Workshops, presented to the winners of 11 categories.

There was also musical entertainment provided by three soloists from Ripon Grammar School and the energetic All for One Ripon Choir.

The awards, sponsored by Little Bird Made artisan markets and Grantley Hall and named in honour of Ripon’s patron saint  Wilfrid, was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Mrs Jo Ropner, who is pictured presenting the Individual Young Person Award to Harry Wilkinson, one of Ripon YMCA’s Young Leaders.

She said:

“Harry is a young carer, who does not let his own health conditions hold him back from helping others. He is a great role model.”

Earlier this month Ms Ropner was a member of the judging panel chaired by the Dean and including  the Mayor, Ripon BID Chair Richard Compton, Tamsin O’Brien director of the Stray Ferret and Paul Matless of Ripon YMCA, which had the difficult task of selecting winners from the hundreds of nominations received.

Dean John, said:

“Ripon Together launched the awards last year as part of the cathedral’s 1,350th anniversary celebrations and now, in our second year we have established a tradition and a way of using St Wilfrid’s star symbol as a way of thanking the very many stars that we have in our community, for the work they do in making Ripon a better place to live.

“A great deal of that work is carried out by volunteers of all ages and we are grateful for what they do.”

Category winners

Other winners were: Ripon Scenic Cruises, which attracts thousands of visitors a year to the city’s canal.  Founder Richard Willis received the Tourism Award from Tamsin O’Brien. (pictured below).

Ms O’Brien also presented the Culture Award to Nick Thompson, in recognition of his work, over the past seven years, in bringing nationally and internationally-known musicians to perform in Ripon.

The Business Award was made by the Lord Lieutenant to Rebecca Crallan (pictured below) owner and founder of The GreenHouse in North Street, for the innovative approach that she has taken to promoting her eco and environmentally-friendly products to customers.

The Mayor presented the Environment Award to members of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust (pictured below) whose work over many years, has included development of the biodiversity-rich Nosterfield Nature Reserve.

He also presented the Young People’s Group Award to members of Ripon Grammar School Sixth form (pictured below) in recognition of their outstanding community volunteering work carried out as part of the school’s Plus One Programme.

Ripon Swimming Club, which, for more than 80 years, has been involved in teaching people of all ages to swim, was presented with the Sport award by Dean John.

The award for the not-for-profit organisation that has made a difference to local people in the past year, was presented  to Ripon YMCA team by Richard Compton (pictured below, right).

The Individual Supporter of Youth Award was won by Ripon Library outreach librarian Claire Thompson, for the many initiatives that she has undertaken to encourage the community to use the library’s facilities.

Ms Thompson could not be present at last night’s ceremony and the trophy was received on her behalf by colleague Louise Monkman, pictured below with Mr Compton.

The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented jointly by the Lord Lieutenant and the Dean, but its recipient, Simon Hewitt, could not be present and it was received on his behalf by fellow Ripon Together member Mick Stanley.

Mr Hewitt was recognised for his wide-ranging voluntary work that has included the establishment of community events that have become regular fixtures on the city’s calendar, such as the highly-successful Ripon Theatre Festival and Funfest, which provides free summer activities for local children

Main picture: Award winners and judges are pictured at the St Wilfrid’s Stars presentation evening.

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate creative agency, Impression Studio, has announced ambitious plans for growth that will take the agency and its sister business, Next Chapter, to £1m turnover by the end of the financial year 2025.

 The creative agency and digital products agency has 17 staff across two brands; Impression and sister agency, Next Chapter, which specialises in digital marketing.

The business is looking to create 5 additional positions across the board.

CEO and founder Charlie Hartley said:

“We’ve experienced encouraging and sustainable growth within the last 2 years, expanding our international client base and spreading our wings further throughout the UK with the addition of FLOCC earlier this year, which has given us access to exciting businesses in East Anglia.

“Of course, we’re Yorkshire born and bred and we’ve been thrilled to grow in our home county, with the addition of 3 new team members recently and exciting projects like Betty’s and Taylors Group, the company behind the iconic Yorkshire Tea brand. We have ambitious plans to ramp up our sales and marketing activity significantly and hope this will help us reach the £1m turnover mark within the next couple of years, as well as grow the team. It’s an exciting time and we have brilliant people on the journey.”

Read More: 

• Business Breakfast: London firm acquires Harrogate car leasing company
• Graveleys of Harrogate for sale eight months after reopening

Grantley Hall to host recruitment event

Luxury hotel Grantley Hall, near Ripon, is to hold a recruitment night on Monday, October 23.

The ‘Come join our Party’ event marks a fresh approach by the hotel to recruitment.

The hotel says the night promises an ‘unforgettable experience for attendees’ and includes a cocktail masterclass, canapés, mini-massages and the opportunity to meet senior staff  to hear about the different events that are held at Grantley Hall.

In March, Grantley won the Employee Development Award at the Stray Ferret’s Business Awards.

Grantley Hall general manager, Nuno César De Sá, said:

“We’re excited to open our doors to potential team members and showcase the incredible opportunities available at Grantley Hall.

“Our ‘Come Join Our Party’ event is not just about recruiting, it’s about inviting individuals to be a part of a remarkable journey, where they can flourish personally and professionally.”

The event starts at 4pm. For further contact: careers@grantleyhall.co.uk.

The Stray Ferret is the media partner for the St Wilfrid’s Stars Awards 2024, with our coverage kindly sponsored by Little Bird Made and Grantley Hall.

A prestigous judging panel met today to decide on the winners of the St Wilfrid’s Stars awards for 2023.

The Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Jo Ropner, Paul Matless of the YMCA, the Dean of Ripon John Dobson, chairman and CEO of Newby Hall Richard Compton, the Mayor of Ripon Cllr Sid Hawke and Stray Ferret director Tamsin O’Brien were all part of the panel that met in Ripon at Thorpe Prebend House.

The judges were all impressed with the number of nominations and the range of community minded people that work hard for the city of Ripon.

There were 11 categories this year taking in areas such as business, culture, tourism and more. The judges also selected an overall volunteer of the year from all of the nominees.

Winners will be at a glittering ceremony hosted by Ripon Cathedral on the evening of Thursday, October 26. Ripon Together organised the event, which made its debut last year.

Jo Ropner, the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, said:

“There was a very broad spectrum. It is lovely to see different ages and cultures working so hard in Ripon. It is good for the city that we have an event like this that can give recognition to some of our rising heroes.”

Paul Matless, housing operations manager at the YMCA, added:

“Today has been excellent, this event has brought the local community together and hopefully it will reward all of the work done in the area. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of people celebrating on the big night.

The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon, said:

“The panel this year is really switched on, we’ve got a good cross section of people. It has been quite challenging because we have received so many nominations in all categories.

“There is clearly much talent, much commitment and generosity of spirit in Ripon to celebrate.”

A restaurant at Swinton Park Hotel is set to undergo a £500,000 refurbishment.

Samuel’s Restaurant, which is based at the Swinton Estate in Masham, will revamp its kitchen by January 2024.

The refurbishment will see it update the entire kitchen, equipment and workflows to reduce its carbon footprint and create a new state-of-the-art facility.

Head chef, Ruth Hansom, has also extended her six-month residency until the end of the year to help oversee the refurbishment.

Andrew Mackay, general manager at the restaurant, said:

“This is a very exciting time for the team at Samuel’s Restaurant, where they will have access to a brand new kitchen in which to prepare the finest Yorkshire food.

“We are incredibly grateful to Ruth for staying on to help us see this project through, and we’re confident that our ambitious plans will continue to attract and retain the best established and up-and-coming chefs to the estate.”

Grantley Hall launches motorsport concierge service

Grantley Hall near Ripon has launched a new motorsport concierge service.

Called Grantley Motorsport, the service will offer guests bespoke packages for track days, in-house professional simulator hire, automotive events and VIP experiences to top-tier motorsport events.

The scheme has been launched in partnership with Hype Motorsport, which will provide access to professional instructors as part of the service.

Richard Sykes, managing director of Grantley Hall, said: 

“At Grantley Hall, we continually strive to provide our guests with extraordinary and unforgettable experiences. 

“Grantley Motorsport is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence. From our on-site professional racing simulator suite, right through to VIP motorsport events, we aim to deliver an unparalleled journey into the world of motorsport, ensuring our guests create cherished memories to last a lifetime.”

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef  competition. Every Saturday, Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food  and sharing cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe. 

I was excited to try out head chef Samira Effa’s new menu at Bar & Restaurant EightyEight at Grantley Hall near Ripon.

I first knew of Samira from the Great British Menu competition where she was my choice to win. She suggested the eight-course tasting menu.

The first course of fragrant Tom Kha Gai with rice crisp topped with chilli miso ketchup and sorrel was a silky-smooth and well-balanced soup with high notes of lemongrass, citrus, subtle heat level, the right amount of sweetness and great depth of flavour.

With a great mouth-feel, flavours that thankfully lingered on, I couldn’t help licking my lips to capture every last sensation. The rice wafer dissolved on the tongue and the heat from the addictive ketchup started as a slow burn that crept up on you. This course was a ‘smack you in the face’ kind of flavour and a wonderful start to the dinner.

The second course of Warrendale Wagyu beef tataki with sesame ponzu, daikon, onions and shiso had a calming effect on the tastebuds, almost as though it was gently courting you. The toasty and spiced notes from the sesame seeds and oil were beautiful.

The slightly pickled daikon, light and fresh with the right amount of crunch, was served with lightly seared and dressed tender beef. The emulsion was like a great mayonnaise on steroids and the magic happened when you put everything together, as it resulted in a taste sensation that was light, elegant and delicious. This course took your tastebuds in a completely different direction, which made it impossible to compare with the earlier course.

The Warrendale wagyu beef tataki.

The third course of grilled diver-caught king scallops with smoked kimchi butter sauce, leek and oyster leaf was a sight for sore eyes, with the lightly seared scallops proudly sitting on a stunning sauce speckled with finely chopped herbs.

The kimchi butter gave body and character to the dish and the sweetness of the scallop married well with the delicate but yummy sauce with subtle notes of lemon and a hint of chilli that popped up at the end of each bite. The sauce was so delicious that I wished I had a piece of bread to mop it all up; it felt criminal to leave any of it on the plate.

The king scallop with smoked kimchi butter sauce, leek and oyster leaf.

The fourth course of roast cauliflower satay, coconut, kafir lime, and coriander made me see the vegetable in a whole new light. Who knew cauliflower could be sexy?

Cauliflower delight

Cauliflower roasted in masala spice nestling on a bed of silky-smooth purée that was as light as air, topped with a drizzle of light satay sauce. The stunning lime gel brought everything together with a burst of sweetness and sharpness that awakened your taste buds. I had a ‘happy laugh’ in my belly as this course made me smile with joy. I scraped my plate clean which is really something for someone who doesn’t usually like cauliflower. Like Oliver Twist, I wanted more.

The fish course of robata grilled halibut, fragrant shell bisque, Whitby crab gyoza, pak choi and sea herbs had perfectly charred yet juicy fish. The bisque had a great lobster-shell flavour with notes of lemongrass and coconut cream, and the micro herbs lent an aniseed flavour to complete the balance of sweet, salty, sour and umami. The accompanying dumpling had a skin that melted away leaving one to enjoy the delicate crab filling with the pak choi bringing in a juiciness that cleansed your palate, allowing you to experience the flavours all over again.

I was in love with the five-spiced Thirkleby duck breast, crispy confit leg, celeriac and umeboshi plum before I’d even tasted it. The accompanying sounds from my friend and me were all that was needed to confirm the yummy-ness of the dish. Juicy five-spiced duck meat in a crunchy coating, tender and pink duck breast, rich and delicious yet light plum jus and celeriac was a well-executed dish and a perfect way to end the savoury courses.

I couldn’t decide on out my favourite course; I had been taken on a culinary roller coaster journey with each stage as exciting as the previous one. I was eager for the dessert courses.

The glazed Yorkshire strawberry, mint and jasmine dessert was a visual and flavourful triumph. The strawberry sphere with the thinnest shell housed a sublimely light mousse with a mint centre. The meringue shell dissolved as soon it landed on your tongue and before you could say ‘Jack Robinson’, the strawberry shone through this dessert.

I didn’t think the strawberry dessert could be topped until the caramelised white chocolate and cherry, white sesame and tonka came out looking even more visually striking. The mousse, sat on crunchy bits, was like eating an elegant cheesecake, cherry ice cream brought a slight bitterness and the cherry compote was sharp enough to reengage your brain after you went to dessert heaven. The delicious sesame crisp was a sensational nod to an ingredient that popped up in different guises.

We ended the meal with salted caramel dark chocolates with a hint of liqueur. The mocktails were excellent, staff were so attentive they spotted a napkin that had slipped to the floor and brought a clean one.

Overall it was a belter of a meal and we left floating on a gastronomic cloud. Samira has created an eight-course meal that is a delight to eat and easy to fall in love with. Shout out to the incredible head pastry chef (@stefthepastrychef) for doing things with pastry that many of us can only dream of.

I highly recommend you go check out Bar & Restaurant EightyEight at Grantley Hall, where your mind-blowing experience starts as you drive onto their glorious grounds before eating in a fairytale-like dining space.

Next week, I will be writing about my visit to Dutch Barn Orchard Vodka.

Read more:

• Yemi’s Food Stories: A ‘sweet day’ at Bettys Cookery School
• Yemi’s Food Stories: A visit to Rudding Park’s kitchen garden
• Yemi’s Food Stories: Memorable weddings with Blossom Tree Cake Company

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef  competition. Every Saturday Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food  and sharing cooking tips– please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.  

It was love at ‘hello’ when Kean Ong opened the door to the Harrogate-based kitchen design studio which immediately transported me into a timeless, elegant, classic and stunning space that set the perfect scene for what was to come.

Kean grew up in Malaysia and worked in Singapore as a chef before relocating to the UK where he continued to hone his skills working in pan Asian, French and modern European kitchens including the Marriot Group, where he discovered a love and passion for pastry.

Picking up a best-in-year award for the advanced diploma in culinary arts patisserie and confectionary at Westminster Kingsway College was the beginning of a truly amazing career at some of London’s finest restaurants including Albert Roux’s The Brasserie at Sofitel St James, Quo Vadis in Soho, Inamo at Wardour Street and St James near Piccadilly.

At Blossom Tree Cake Company He is half of a brilliant duo with Stephen, who I can only describe as the heartwarming ‘behind the scenes yet keeping the show on the road’ main man, and Kean credits Stephen for being a key enabler to their success story.

The name Blossom Tree was inspired by a tree in their front garden and the oriental influences of Kean’s background.

Despite having had an enviable career, Kean says making wedding cakes is what he loves the most. He considers being a part of a couple’s big day a privilege that he pays back by creating the most beautiful, elegant, contemporary and delicious cakes to match their important occasion.

He makes cakes that look as good as they taste on the inside and he wants couples to look back years later still happy with their timeless cake design.

As a food lover, Kean is driven by passion and quality which have translated into him making quality, ethical and traceability choices including growing his own fruits and herbs and moving from fresh flowers to hand crafting life-like flowers for his cakes.

The flavours in his cakes are created using the freshest ingredients, with every element homemade, minimal use of food colouring and the cakes are infused with his signature syrups that keep them moist and light without being overly sweet.

For the tasting, Kean made me three flavours including a new one which he will be unveiling for the next wedding season.

The Chocolate Salted-Caramel cake was a delight with the lightest chocolate sponge perfectly balanced with the salted caramel buttercream. As a non-chocolate cake lover, I was an easy convert by the delicate flavour which didn’t smack me in the face with chocolate.

Kean explained that he kept the flavour light because people would have been eating all day and wouldn’t want a cake that is heavy or overly sweet.

Yemi and Kean Ong with some of his creations

I moved on to the most popular flavour of Passion Fruit curd, Vanilla buttercream and White Chocolate sponge and could immediately see why this is popular, with most couples asking for a layer. The passion fruit curd was sublime cutting through the white chocolate sponge making me want to go for yet another bite.

My favourite all time cake remains a well made Victoria sponge cake and the new flavour that I tasted took it to another level. We are often told the classics are classic for a reason and should be untouched, but I counter that by saying sometimes a classic needs a facelift in the hands of a craftsman.

That’s exactly what Kean has done with his twist on this well loved classic featuring quintessentially British ingredients, capturing the smells of summer and champagne.

Each flavour was the front runner until I tasted the next one; I left without being able to decide my favourite but I remain partial to his latest creation.

Kean puts his heart and soul into his work; his artistic flair, skill, experience and training as a pastry chef was rewarded with four Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards in 2022 for his Elderflower & Blackcurrant, Raspberry velvet, zesty Lime, and Pistachio & Plum flavours.

Another three awards were added in 2023 for Zesty lemon, Chocolate & Cherry and Lychee, Raspberry & Rose flavours.

Blossom Tree Cake Company’s creations have been featured in many magazines and is the preferred partner for many venues including Goldsborough Hall, Grantley Hall, Ripley Castle and Rudding Park  in Harrogate.

Bookings are taken a year in advance with tastings done over the winter period. Tailored consultations result in your wedding cake complimenting and being a talking point on your big day.

With a warm welcome, cakes that look like artworks and creatively delicious flavour profiles, I left Blossom Tree Cakes still in love and armed with tips and inspirations to take my own baking to the next level. Kudos to this dynamic duo.

Read more:

• Yemi’s Food Stories: Sweet smells at the Lavender Rooms in Knaresborough
• Yemi’s Food Stories: The perfect day out at Yolk Farm

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Grantley Hall near Ripon has appointed a new general manager.

Nuno César de Sá, who previously worked for the Mandarin Oriental group, has joined the hotel after previous manager Andrew McPherson stepped down.

On his appointment, he said:

“I am honoured to become part of the Grantley Hall family. I have been fascinated by what has been achieved at Grantley Hall over the last six years.

“Now that I have been appointed as general manager, it is incredible that I will become an integral part of its future.”

Richard Sykes, managing director at Grantley Hall, added:

“We are thrilled to have Nuno on board as our new general manager.

“As a family-owned business, we understand that out people are the most important element of the hotel as they implement the magic of Grantley Hall to our guests and as Nuno shares many of the Grantley values, we know that he will be a perfect fit.”

Women’s co-working event to be held in Harrogate

A women’s business group is set to host a coffee and co-working event in Harrogate this month.

Women’s Business Club UK will be hosting the session at Manahatta off Parliament Street on July 21 from 11am until 2pm.

The group described the event as a chance for women to “have a natter and settle in for a morning of co-working”.

The co-working session is free, but pre-booking is essential.

For more information on the event and to book a place, visit the Eventbrite page here.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town announces community scheme sponsor
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate care company launches new day centres